Selenium WebDriver acts as a bridge between python code and web browser. Python Script define the sequence of actions to be performed and libraries essentially provide API for sending commands to the WebDriver (libraries will convert the python script to JSON format and send them as HTTP request to browser driver). The browser executes the commands received from its driver and returns the result of the execution.
Selenium architecture
Selenium WebDriver is the backbone of web automation testing. Its architecture has evolved significantly from selenium 3 to selenium 4, improving communication, stability and performance from cross browser automation.
In Selenium 3 WebDriver, Selenium scripts use client libraries such as python, Java or any other supported language to send commands that interact with web browser.
These commands are converted into JSON format and sent through an HTTP request to browser driver.
Components:
Selenium client Library – This component provides language specific APIs that allows user to write test scripts and interact with WebDriver.
JSON Wire Protocol over HTTP – It defines a set of commands and responses in JSON format exchanges over HTTP requests.
Browser Drivers – Each browser requires its specific driver, like Chrome Driver for Chrome Browser to automate browser actions.
Real Browsers – Web Browsers like Chrome, Firefox, etc. where real automation testing takes place.
Selenium 4 is a updated version of a tool used to automate web applications. Its design makes it easier and faster for automating scripts to communicate with browser.
Selenium Client Library – This component provides language specific APIs.
WebDriver W3C Protocol – In selenium 4 it focuses on W3C WebDriver for better consistency and compatibility across different browsers.
Browser Drivers – Browser requires its specific browser to automate browser actions.
Real Browsers – Actions like clicking elements, filling forms, navigation pages and validating content are performed in real browsers.
Compared to selenium 3 WebDriver, selenium 4 WebDriver has significant improvements in terms of functionality, performance and easy to use.
Selenium 4 introduces better support for modern browsers, improved W3C compliance and new features like enhanced grid capabilities, which makes it even more powerful for automating web applications.
what is the significance of the python virtual environment? give some examples in support of your answer?
Virtual environments are python’s way of separating dependencies between projects preventing conflicts and maintaining cleaner setups. With python’s virtual environment model, we can create isolated environments that use different versions of libraries or python itself.
• Python virtual environment provides lightweight and isolated python development environments.
• We can use python venv module to manage dependencies independently for each project.
• Dependency Isolation - We can have multiple environments with multiple sets of packages without conflicts among them. Different projects requirements can be satisfied at the same time.
• Version Control.
• System Integrity.
• Clean slate.
• Portability and reproducibility.
Example:
We have two project Project A and Project B
Project A uses version 2.10.0 version libraries (older project)
Project B uses version 2.40.0 version libraries
With the help of Virtual Environment Project, A has its own environment and Project B has its own environment, allowing both to function correctly.
Without virtual environment, installing both versions globally would be impossible.
Top comments (0)